Mental health?

Im glad I've got mental health rather than mental ill health.

I have noticed that as well Daddima it's annoying.
Still marginally better than she/ he is mental..

The other irritating health related comment "I've got blood pressure". We all do be it high, low or in the middle.

Yes, I've noticed this, in fact I pointed out to my granddaughter a few days ago, that we all have mental health, but we don't all have mental health problems. Just like physical health, some people have problems and some don't.

I've had a bee in my bonnet for years about this and was beginning to think I was alone. At one point I challenged See Me Scotland about their campaign challenging "The Stigma of Mental Health" pointing out that using this phrase was a euphemism... and that the stigma was around mental illness. They said they had consulted their membership and 'Mental Health'
was the preferred phrase... So much for challenging stigma!!!!

Reminds me of the 1970s, when the insurance companies rebranded permanent disability insurance as permanent health insurance. So much more attractive!

It's the term used by the NHS ie Mental Health Service

It may be informally Pascal but for at least 20 years Mental Health Provision has been under local Foundation Trusts and called (I'll use another city from me as example)

Manchester Health and Social Care Foundation Trust

and so on.

Well you don’t say Jane has mental health you would say Jane has poor mental health or Jane has mental health problems
The lady on the radio got it wrong she was being brief and it doesn’t make sense I haven’t heard it used like that
That’s the equivalent of saying Jane has a heart ….yes…???

Mental health service makes perfect sense it’s a service to help with your mental health

Mental health problems is preferable to Mental illness which
covers depression to schizophrenia

BlueBelle

*Mental health service* makes perfect sense it’s a service to help with your mental health

I agree - I don't know why the Foundation Trusts avoid the term.

seadragon

I've had a bee in my bonnet for years about this and was beginning to think I was alone. At one point I challenged See Me Scotland about their campaign challenging "The Stigma of Mental Health" pointing out that using this phrase was a euphemism... and that the stigma was around mental illness. They said they had consulted their membership and 'Mental Health'
was the preferred phrase... So much for challenging stigma!!!!

I missed that one! To me, ‘ The Stigma of Mental Illness’ makes much more sense, as does ‘ The Stigma of Mental Health Issues/ Problems’, even ‘ Poor Mental Health’, but certainly not ‘Mental Health’.

pascal30

It's the term used by the NHS ie Mental Health Service

Like Bluebelle, I think calling a service a Mental Health provision makes sense, like saying the NHS promotes heart health, but I’m hearing people saying, ‘ I can’t work, I’ve got mental health’, and that makes no sense at all.

Wyllow3

BlueBelle

Mental health service makes perfect sense it’s a service to help with your mental health

I agree - I don't know why the Foundation Trusts avoid the term.

I agree too, and with BlueBelle's other post, immediately before the one you are quoting from.

In real life, I have only ever heard one person saying what the OP said, and that complaint was being very much influenced by dislike for the person (who has been hospitalised several times for serious mental health issues) who had declined to do something on the grounds of her mental health
I have to say, the attitude felt very petty and spiteful.

Daddima

pascal30

It's the term used by the NHS ie Mental Health Service

Like Bluebelle, I think calling a service a Mental Health provision makes sense, like saying the NHS promotes heart health, but I’m hearing people saying, ‘ I can’t work, I’ve got mental health’, and that makes no sense at all.

but surely they say 'I've got MH problems/issues'

pascal30

Daddima

pascal30

It's the term used by the NHS ie Mental Health Service

Like Bluebelle, I think calling a service a Mental Health provision makes sense, like saying the NHS promotes heart health, but I’m hearing people saying, ‘ I can’t work, I’ve got mental health’, and that makes no sense at all.

but surely they say 'I've got MH problems/issues'

No, pascal, they don’t. The lady I heard on the radio’s exact words were, ‘ I’ve suffered from mental health for years’, when she was talking about how difficult it was to get a job. It’s become quite common to describe mental health issues as just ‘ having mental health’.

Did I hear Prince Harry in Nigeria saying
“ We all have mental health “? He went on to say it is important to express our feelings, so maybe it was ok in context. Not sure if I caught it correctly.
I wish the word stigma could be avoided by those trying to prevent it. I often want to say
“ You are encouraging people to think there is a stigma just by using the word. “

seadragon

I've had a bee in my bonnet for years about this and was beginning to think I was alone. At one point I challenged See Me Scotland about their campaign challenging "The Stigma of Mental Health" pointing out that using this phrase was a euphemism... and that the stigma was around mental illness. They said they had consulted their membership and 'Mental Health'
was the preferred phrase... So much for challenging stigma!!!!

Exactly! People are ashamed to admit they are mentally ill but happy to say they are “suffering from mental health”.

pascal30

Daddima

pascal30

It's the term used by the NHS ie Mental Health Service

Like Bluebelle, I think calling a service a Mental Health provision makes sense, like saying the NHS promotes heart health, but I’m hearing people saying, ‘ I can’t work, I’ve got mental health’, and that makes no sense at all.

but surely they say 'I've got MH problems/issues'

Well clearly it doesn't describe a MH condition in that case. I know when I was training as a Mental Health Nurse and CPN they changed the name of the service.. and even now a CPN is a community psychiatric nurse.. but it seems to have become a sort of badge of honour for people to say they have MH problems.. little do most of them know the suffering of people with severe Mental Illness..

Mental health issues seem now to cover anything from feeling a bit down to very severe illness. It is very non specific.
I wouldn't say I have physical health issues I would say I have asthma. I think most people refer to their physical issues by name rather than use an umbrella term that covers everything.
It's time that people are able to speak about their specific mental illness without feeling they will be judged by others.

I agree, you have a point.
Nobody is denying the existence of Depression or other Bipolar Disorder or other issues which need help. But to lump eg Anxiety along with Paranoid Schizophrenia would be ridiculous- yet they all count as “mental health” issues and from the mildest to the most severe justify inability to work, even the issue of blue badges. . This seems grossly unfair to those who are genuinely ill or disabled.
I read of a young man , (no known mental health issues) unable to find a job, who was offered work in a coffee shop, but he found it too stressful and quit after half a day.
Similarly bereavement and loss are sad but normal facts of life- and do not need to come under the Mental Health umbrella.
I also find myself thinking that in the same way there is a world of difference between mis-gendering or a leery wolf whistle and rape - how can these all be treated as “sexual assault”?
Does it not cheapen the serious instances while placing undue emphasis on the less?

i think i'd find working in a coffee shop too stressful to do.
anyway, as long as i don't have a temperature...i'll muddle along.